246 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MULLET FAMILY. 



they have been secured in vast quantities. Aristotle 

 mentioned these fishings as prevailing in his day 

 upon the coast of Greece in the month of December, 

 and they are now practised in the Bay of Biscay in 

 summer, the net being employed. Nature has en- 

 dowed them with a power which often aids their 

 escape, which is thus alluded to by Oppian : — 



The Mullet, when encircling seines enclose. 

 The fatal threads and treacherous bosom knows. 

 Instant he rallies all his vigorous powers, 

 And faithful aid of every name implores ; 

 O'er battlement of cork up-darting flies, 

 And finds from ah th' escape which sea denies. 



When one takes the leap, the others, like sheep, 

 follow instantly in succession. Man, however, still 

 circumvents them, for nets are made for the pur- 

 pose, which, vertical beneath, have horizontal fringes 

 above, which again receive the vaulters, perplex, and 

 entrap them. Their flesh is much esteemed, being- 

 tender, rich, and of a delicate taste, whether fresh or 

 salt; and their ova is likewise much used as food, 

 being dried and salted and widely known under the 

 name Botargo. Only three species are known as 

 British. 



(Sp. 61.) M.capito. The Grey Mullet. The Grey 

 Mullet of Willughby, Pennant, and Fleming, and 

 which they considered as the M. cephalus, seems 

 now to be ascertained to be the present species, the 

 cephalus being distinguished by having its eye partly 

 covered with a semi-transparent membrane, and 

 having also a large elongated triangular scale, point- 



